Download orthodontics and 3d printing

ORTHODONTICS AND 3D PRINTING
ACHIEVE OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE THROUGH DIGITIZATION
By Daniel Alter MSc, MDT, CDT
Forward-thinking orthodontic laboratories are finding ways to optimize their businesses and dental offerings to their
clientele through digital orthodontic dentistry and 3D printing. Orthodontic laboratories can decrease labor-intensive
and time-costly practices by adopting 3D printing, as well as increase profitability and efficiency. This paper will highlight
and demonstrate the benefits of dental digitalization and 3D printing in the orthodontic setting, as well as provide a case
study of how a progressive orthodontic laboratory is reaping the rewards.
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OVERVIEW
Orthodontic dental technology requires a unique set of skills and
understanding to aid the patients’ treatment and properly align
teeth. This requires ample communication with the orthodontic
clinician and a series of potential oral appliances to achieve
optimal results. Traditionally, much of the work relied heavily upon
less accurate alginate impressions, which were turned into stone
(gypsum) models of the hard oral environment. These models
were used to manufacture orthodontic appliances, such as acrylic
laboratory. Within less than a year of acquiring the 3D printers, the
original concern that the laboratory wouldn’t have enough work for
a single full shift (seven hours for 12 to 15 models per printer) of
printing disappeared; now the laboratory enjoys three full shifts of
retainers, mouth guards, spacers and arch expanders. Orthodontic
3D printing a day and is looking forward to further growth.
appliance manufacturing is an incredibly laborious process that
“Twenty percent of our business is digital and growing weekly,”
requires a heightened level of expertise to properly complete and
Meschke continues. “Through digital dentistry, we can eliminate
provide the patient with optimal results.
entire appointments for the dentists. The technology allows us, by
means of an intraoral scan and software, to virtually remove braces
and fabricate the retainer. This way the patient can have the braces
removed and their retainer fit on the same appointment, thereby
eliminating one appointment.” Beyond reduced appointments,
patients also save time, receive a superior product and have their
overall dental experience enhanced by eliminating the need to
endure a dental impression.
Assurance Retainer System: With the use of 3D printed models,
orthodontic appliances like acrylic retainers and/or clear aligners can be easily
and efficiently fabricated.
Digital technology decreases costs, workloads and human
errors by automating the dental model fabricating process with
3D printing. This new technology also increases accuracy and
efficiency. 3D printing also helps eliminate potential shortfalls and
increase appointment options through digital dentistry. This allows
for more patient appointments and a potential increase of revenue
to the bottom line.
MIDLYNE ORTHODONTIC LABORATORY
MidLyne Orthodontic Laboratory in Lenexa, Kansas, is a
progressive orthodontic laboratory that recognizes the significant
advantages of going digital, and what it could provide the laboratory
and its clientele. Since adopting 3D printing in 2013, MidLyne has
seen a dramatic increase in business, specifically in the digital
dentistry portion.
Cory Meschke, owner of MidLyne, says the company owns the
Objet30 OrthoDesk™ and Objet Eden260VS™ 3D Printers,
and considers the new technology an “amazing addition” to the
Herbst Appliance: This appliance is used to correct the anterior to posterior
relationship of the maxillary and mandibular jaw, a relationship that can be
established correctly and easily with digitization and 3D printing.
DIGITAL PROCESS AND 3D PRINTING
The digital orthodontic treatment begins with an intraoral scan of
the patient’s oral environment. The scan is sent electronically to the
orthodontic laboratory, where it is inspected for complete data and
converted to a 3D rendering of the mouth. Many times, third-party
software may be required to fill in any missing or inappropriate
data, and renders it in a printable format. The object is then placed
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DIGITAL STORAGE SOLUTIONS
Another benefit of digitization and 3D printing – specifically for the
orthodontists and general practitioners performing orthodontic
treatments – is the storage of orthodontic patients’ models.
Most states require orthodontists to maintain dental records for
upwards of 10 years, including gypsum models. This law creates
a large need for storage space in orthodontists’ offices in order for
them to be compliant.
Oscar Angled Appliance: 3D printed models provide the ease and ability to fabricate
an arch expander with buccal wire in order to maintain anterior position.
virtually into the nesting software within the 3D printer and routed
to be printed.
The printer jets layers of curable liquid photopolymer in 16-micron
layers with accuracy as high as 0.1 mm, which appreciably
enhances the dental models’ and medical devices’ quality. Along
with the photopolymer plastic, the printer deposits support material
in areas deemed non critical, but are needed to successfully print
Digitization and 3D printing have remedied that. Digital intraoral
scans qualify as maintaining patient records and can be housed
on the practice’s server or with a partnered orthodontic lab.
Should the need arise for hard models, any open-source (.stl)
digitized intraoral impression can quickly be 3D printed to
attain a dental model. This creates much needed space and
eliminates the clutter of multiple models for every patient in the
orthodontic practice.
the 3D rendering. This support material is removed during postprocessing and leaves only the intended dental model and its
corresponding critical components.
Post-processing is simple with either the Objet30 OrthoDesk
3D Printer or the Objet Eden260VS 3D Printer. Once the printed
model is finished and extracted from the 3D printer, a postprocessing time of less than a minute per model is required.
The Objet30 OrthoDesk 3D Printer comes with a high-pressure
WaterJet system to pressure wash out any of the support material,
while the Objet Eden260VS 3D Printer uses a dissolvable support
material that is easily and quickly removed.
Accurate and complete 3D printed models are used to fabricate
an extensive array of orthodontic appliances, such as splint
therapy, mouth guards, retainers, expanders, indirect bonding
and clear aligners. Along with the previously mentioned retainer
benefits, orthodontic band appliances share similar benefits.
Metal appliances require bands – simply by scanning the teeth
with separators or wedges, the model can be 3D printed in the
laboratory and the metal band appliance can be created prior to
the patient’s appointed time and delivered at appointment. This
frees up time for both the patient and the orthodontist, who is then
able to schedule more appointments.
RPE Appliance: Digital dentistry and 3D printing allows for shortened appointment
frequency when fabricating an arch expander.
ULTIMATE BENEFITS
Orthodontic digitization and 3D printing have raised the level of
standards of care by providing patients with an optimal orthodontic
appliance, with elevated levels of accuracy. The digital process
reduces costly remakes for the laboratory and orthodontist.
It also streamlines those labs’ office operations – eliminating
redundant appointments and delivery fees, and improves of the
orthodontic process and patient experience. The orthodontic
patient’s overall dental experience is enhanced by adopting
these new technologies. The negative connotations of the
alginate impressions are dispelled now that they are enhanced
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with the cutting-edge look and feel of the digital acquisition/digital
impression unit and the sleek look of the 3D printed models.
Orthodontists who adopt digital technologies reap rapid benefits in
patient growth, which translates to a quick return on investment.
Orthodontic laboratories too, experience a large positive shift
with digitization. Their labor costs are significantly reduced by
eliminating steps in creating stone models, while their accuracy
and efficiency is significantly enhanced. Furthermore, these
translate to a reduction in costly remakes. Streamlining the
clientele booking process plus a cleaner working environment lead
to an enhanced quality of work life. Orthodontic laboratories who
are early adopters of digital orthodontic dentistry are experiencing
and will continue to experience the benefits of enriched robust
new clientele, greater revenues and business vitality.
As Cory Meschke, owner of MidLyne enthusiastically says, “We
are extremely excited and looking forward to harnessing all the
benefits that digital orthodontics has to offer. The technology
ultimately benefits the orthodontist, orthodontic laboratory and
most importantly, the patient.”
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